Flying-machine.



P. W. WHITE, JR.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.1'5. 1912.

,18 3,937 Piafented May'23, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- N '5 \NIE k1 k P. W. WHITEJR.

FLYING MACHINE.

I APPLICATION Fll JAN-13.1912. v 1,183,937. Patented May 23,1916.

3 SHEETS'SHEET Z- Y P. W. WHITE, JR.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15. I912. 1,183,937. V Patent-ed May 23,1916. Q

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PERCIVAL w. WHITE,- JR, 0? BRUNSWICK, MAINE.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed January 15, 1912. Serial No. 671,156.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PERoIvAL VVAYLAND WHITE, .Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing in the town of Brunswick, in the countyof Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented a new and Improved Flying- Machine, of which the following is a specification.

Although this specification describes what would currently be called a double-winged glider, it is understood that the main features of my invention would be applicable to other types of aeroplane, and that they would be equally valuable in a propellerdriven or wing-flapping machine, whether monoplane or biplane.

The chief aim of my invention is the simplification and unification of the controlling system, or inother words my invention aims to combine under one single set of controls the three functions of right-and-left turning, of up-and-down turning, and of turning with respect to the line of flight.

My invention will be understood by reference to the drawings, in which-v- Figure 1 is a plan of a machine embodying my invention in its preferred form, a portion of the fabric being removed to show the mechanical construction. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the body. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the body mechanism showing its connection with the wing mechanism. Figs. 4 and -5 are details referred to. below. i

In its preferred form my machine comprises a fabric-covered body B with wings B also fabric-covered and so attached thereto as to be moved up and down and backward and forward and also to. be bellied longitudinally. As shown, the body is fish shaped comprising a frame the various parts of which are marked X and within it are contained a seat G for the aeronaut and the various levers, etc., by which the apparatus is controlled, as below described. It extends forward of the wings to form a-prow which assists in the balancing and steering of the machine, offering a resistance to the wind coming from either side as below described. At the rear it has a tail made up of ribs E, the purpose of which is described below. The wings-are lettered B. One of the wings has a beam lettered L which is hanging on an outrigger 0 while the other wing has a beam lettered L hung to an outrigger 0 so that each wing may be moved horizontally,

or vertically, or may be. turned about a horizontal axis as below described. The wings being both alike, the construction of the right hand wing in Fig. 1 will be described. To the beam is attached a series of ribs. The rib A nearest the body is substantially at right angles to the beam L and so are the three ribs a nearest thereto, but the ribs w are at an acute angle to the beam, the outer rib Wlying nearly at right angles to the body B of the machine. The rib W forms the tip of the wing frame and is hinged to the beam L or attached to itso as to have a little play. 1'.

T is a spreader mounted on the end of the 'wing beam. The outer end of the rib W is connected by the wire M with the spreader T, a spring B being included in the connec tion so as to keep the wire M normally taut and yet allow the rib W and the parts connected with it to yield slightly under stress.

Fabric-supporting wires 25 extend from the spreader T to the spreader V also mounted on the beam L Intermediate the spreaders T and V is aflexing spreader U which is also mounted on the beam L but difiers in construction from the spreaders T and V. It comprises an arm D which isgrooved as at 01 according to the number of wires t in use. It is connected by two arms (1 d of difi'erent lengths to the beam L and is held in any desired position by wires I and J, preferably attached to the arms (1 (P, and roved through eyes d 03*, as shown, these eyes being mounted on the beam L These Wires I, J are carried inboard along the beam L and as shown are attached to 'each' end of the cross piece 6 mounted on the beam, which is within easy reach of the operator, this being a simple means of attachment by which they may easily be controlled. By means of these wires the portions of the wings in front of the beam L may be curved as desired.

The ribs A, a, w, W are flexible throughout their length and, as stated above, with the exception of the rib W, are attached rigidly to the beam L A longitudinal rib 1 F butting against the rib A, attached to the intermediate ribs and terminating near the end of the beam L assists in making the ribs and a block is attached to the rib A near its lower end, and is then carried forward and downward to the outrigger 0 The outriggers O, O are mounted on the frame X in the body of the machine and their outer ends form the fulcrums for the beams L, L in which the outer ends'of the beams may be moved up or down or backward and forward by means of their handles Z, Z. A convenient form of support for each beam is shown in Fig. 3 where the two' braces 'forming the outrigger O are connectedby a'shaft S carrying a yoke P the shank of which is mounted to turn therein. The yoke P straddles the beam L and is connected thereto by the pint). The beam thus may swing about the pin Q and also about the axis of the yoke P. In addition a pin 8 is mounted on the shaft S so that theshaft S may be turned about its axis, thus lifting or lowering the beam L. As shown, the pin 8 is provided with an eye to which a rod 9 may be attached, the other end of which is connected to a lever 10 adapted to engage the rack 11 to hold it in place.

.The inboard end of each pucker wire K on the right hand wing (see Fig. 3) is preferably attached to the lower part of the outrigger O or to an adjacent point on the body so that when the wings are lifted the pucker wires will tighten curving the wings, while when the wings are lowered the wires will loosen allowing the wings to flatten. The amount of curvature may be changed by changing the position. of the pulleys from the position shown in the drawings to such other position as may be thought desirable.

- As stated above, for convenience. the conthe machine. The tail comprises a series of ribs E each comprising two flexible members e, a, one above the other, joined at their outer ehds as at e the inner ends of each being pivotally fastened to a short cross bar 6 mounted to turn on a cross rod 6* supported in the frame This cross rod is preferably bent as shown in Fig. 3 so that the ribs E will radiate from a common center and the tail as a whole have a fan shape.

The rods are preferably of difierent lengths as shown. The tail is normally held in expanded position because of the gussets Y- which connect it with the wings. The cross bars a are connected at-each end by crossed wires 6 a with levers a, a mounted on the frame work X in thebody B of the machine so that by moving the levers the cross bars 6 will be turned out of their vertical position to raise or lower the tail as the case may be. Two levers are used for convenience, the wiresfrom half the cross bars going to the lever C and the wires from the other half going to the lever C The middle cross bar 6 may be connected to both levers as shown. i

To simplify and lighten the work of the operator a compensating device is used. Preferably and as shown, this is in the form of a sliding seat G suitably supported on rails g forming part of, or attached to the frame X. To the front of. the seat is attached a block g through which is roved the cord 9 which is also roved through blocks 9 one attached to each side of the forward portion of the frame X. The two ends of this cord are attached to the spreaders V, V The portion of-th'e cord which is between the blocks 9 and the spreaders V, V forms a support for the fabric with which the wings are covered. By reason of these blocks the cord will slip in one direction or the other as required by the respective for- 'ward and backward movements of the wings. The sliding of the seat if rearward enables the operator to increase the pull upon both ends of the cord, thus pulling thewings forward so that all the resistance of the air against-the outer portion of the wings may not have to be overcome by his backward pull on the handles of the beams L, L1. If the seat is slid forward this pull is released and the normal strain on the wings and the tail which is normally held taut orspread by the gussets Y is released. Moreover, he may thus change the center of gravity of the machine. The rear end of the seat G is connected by the spring N with the frame at n, the spring assisting the operator in moving the seat. The seat is also prorided, with projections 0 on each side, be

tween which the levers C, C are held so that the position of the wires and hence of the tail will be automatically adjusted with each movement of the seat. The levers may be otherwise mounted and operated, if preferred. v

It will be understood that the wings are covered with suitable fabric which also covers the body except in so far as an opening is required (indicat d by dotted lines 7 to give the operator access to the seat. It is' desirable that this fabric shall cover the lower as well as the upper side of the 1 machine.

The above machine may be described as a double-wingedglider though its mechanism is equally applicable to other types of aeroplanes. and unification of the control system, combining as it does in its preferred form under a single set of controls the three operations of turning to the right or left, ofup and Its chief aim is the simplification V down turning, and of turning with respect to the lineof flight.

' springs R will tend to restore the fabric to The double joints by which the wing beams are supported on the outriggers allow the wings to be moved up or down or backward and forward independently, thus providing for all these operations by the operator by the movements of the handles Z at the inboard ends of the beams, much asan oarsman controls his boat by the handles of his oars. In fact, by the movement of the Wing beams propulsive wingflapping may be accomplishedv if desired. By pulling back upon the inboard ends or handles of the beams L, L the center of pressure of the wings will be moved 'forward with respect to the center of gravity ofthe body and hence will, if there be headway, tend to make the machine rise. By reversing this operation the wings will be moved backward and the machine will tend to fall. A turn to the right can be made by putting the right wing forward and the left wing correspondingly backward.

The prow assists in making a turn as it extends far enough forward of the wings to offer a surface against which the wind will act. Thus if the windis coming from dead ahead and a turn to the right is desired, the right wing beingput forward and the left wing correspondingly backward, a right turn will expose the side of the prow to the wind which will push the machine around in the desired direction, subject to further manipulation of the wings to steady it upon its new course. Undue tipping to the right can be controlled by advancing the right wing, etc. Up and down adjustments of the wings may advantageously be made in con junction with these backward and forward movements, and the height of the wings with respect to the body may advantageously be decreased as the speed of the machine increases. The size of the wings may also be advantageously decreased as the velocity increases by removing the stress of the wire K upon the ribs so that they may flex slightly and relieve the strain on the fabric, allowing it to bulge. Less resistance will thus be offered to the air because the fabric being under less tension will give slightly and offer less area to the oncoming air. The spread of the tail Will also bereduced by these op erations, for as the fabric slackens the strain will be taken off the ribs A and the connecting mechanism of the fabric will reduce its pull on the side edges of the tail and allow them to yield to the air resistance. The

its normal tension.

The principal object of the tail is to provide additional fore-and-aft stability. A secondary use for it, however, is'to assist in controlling the upward and downward direction of the machine, and thus the tail is so attached tothe body that it may be flexed up and down. For although the backward and forward movements of the wings them selves are depended upon to control the upward and downward movement of the machine at high velocities, still it is expedient when traveling at low speeds, more especially when starting or alighting, to have the assistance of the tail. The front-to-rear curvature of the Wings may be adjusted in two ways; Each wing may be .said to be divided by its beam L, or L into two parts, a front part and a rear part. The curvature of the front part is caused by the manipulation of the wires I and J by which the positions of the spreader or arm D are controlled. In the slots of this arm run wires to' which the fabric is attaohed and upon the pulling down of this spreader by the release of the wires I and J the front edge of the wing will be dropped. The downward curvature of each wing to the rear of its beam is controlled by the wire K which when pulled or shortened increases the curvature from the normal. V The word body throughout this specification refers to thatfish shaped part containing the operator and any other considerable weight which the machinemay carry, and sometimes called the car or fuselage. The word outrigger refers to the supporting members extending from the sides of the body and to the extremities of which the 9 'wings are hinged.v The body may itself be sults'will occur to those skilled in the art.

Having described my invention, what I a claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a flying machine, a long narrow body-having a prow at one end and a tail at the other, a seat mounted in said body and located substantially midway between the outward extremities of said prow and tail, Outriggers mounted in said body on each side of said seat, and wings flexibly 'mounted on said outriggers substantially equidistant from thetips of said prow and said tail.

2; In a flying machine, a long narrow body having a prow at one end and a tail at the other, a seat mounted in said body and located substantially midway between the outward extremities of said prow and tail, outriggers mounted in said body on each side of said seat, and wings flexibly mounted on said outriggers substantially of ribs joined to said beams, wings mounted on said beams and saidribs and a tail comequidistant from the tips of said prow and said tail, said prow being inclosed to form a wind-resisting surface whereby said prow will offer resistance to the wind coming from either side and hence assist in steering.

3. Ina flying machine, a body, outriggers extending laterally therefrom, beams extending laterally from said body, each being pivotally mounted on an outrigger, a series of ribs jointed to said beams, wings mounted on said beams and said ribs, said ribs being flexible whereby the.area of each ,wing will be variable, and means whereby said ribs are maintained normallyin spread position.

4:. ha flying machine, a body, outriggers extending laterally therefrom, beams extending laterally from said body, each being pivotally mounted on an outrigger, a series of ribs joined to said beams, wings mounted on said beams and said ribs, said ribs being flexible whereby the area of each wing will be variable, a tail projecting from the rear of said body and connected to said wings, and means comprising a sliding seat and connections between said seat and said wings and said wings and said tail whereby the spread of said wings and hence the spread of said tail may be controlled.

5. In a flying machine, a body, outriggers extending laterally therefrom, beams extending laterally from said body, each being pivotally mounted on an outrigger, a series of flexible ribs joined to said beams, wings mounted on said beams and said ribs, a tail projecting from the rear of said body and connected to said wings, whereby its spread may be controlled by the spread of said wings, and means comprising a sliding seat and connections between saidseat and said wings whereby a change in the position of said seat will change the spread of said wings; a

6. In a flying machine, a body, outriggers extending laterally therefrom, beams extending laterally from said body, each being pivotally mounted on. an outrigger, a series tending laterally from said body, each being pivotally mounted onan outrigger, a series of rlbs joined to said beams, wings mounted on said beams and said ribs, and a tail comsaid ribs.

prising ribs adapted to swing vertically and horizontally and means whereby said vertical swinging may be controlled, said means comprising a seat mounted to slide on, said body and connections between said seat and 8. In a flying machine, a body having a prow, means such as w ngs to support said body, a tail-piece pivotally connected to said body to swing vertically, and a seat slidably mounted on said body and connected to said wings and said tail-piece whereby a change in the position of said seat will cause a. change in the stress on said wings and said tail-piece, and also change the center of gravity of said machine and tilt it either upward or downward. 9. In a flying machine, a body having outriggers projecting on each side thereof, beams pivotally mounted on said Outriggers to swing horizontally and being also mounted to be moved about a horizontal axis, and wings attached to said beams.

10. In a flying machine, a body having outrigger-s projecting on each side thereof, wings, and means for supporting said wings on said outriggers whereby each may be moved forwardly and rearwardly in a substantially horizontal plane and may also be adjusted about a horizontal axis.

11. In a flying machine,-a body, wings projectingtherefrom onfeach side thereof, means for. pivotally supporting said wings whereby each wing may be deflected in a horizontal plane with relation to the other and to said body, each-wing being divided longitudinally thereof into two sections, means for flexibly connecting said sections,

and means-for adjusting the forward secangle to each other, means for flexing each.

wing comprising a cord one end of which is connected to said body and the other end to the outer portion of said'wing, and connections between said cord and said ribs whereby any change. in the position of said wing with relation to said outrigger will change the strain on' said cord. V

14. In a flying machine, a body and wings each comprising a beam pivotally mounted thereon, flexible ribs yieldingly attached thereto along its length, a cord connected at one end to said body and at the other end to the outer extremity of said beam and to said ribs intermediate its ends and in substantially theplane of the wing.

(15. In a-flying machine, a body,v wings projecting on each side thereof, each wing comprising a beam and flexible ribs attached thereto and yielding means for keeping said ribs normally in spread position whereby under heavy wind pressure said ribs will flex and reduce the area of said wings.

16. In a flying machine, a body, a tail projecting rearwardly therefrom and hinged thereto to swing vertically and comprising flexible ribs hinged side by side whereby they may be spread and may be closed together, and means whereby their relation to each other may be adjusted, said means comprising wings connected to said ribs and a sliding seat, said wings being connected to said seat whereby said wings may be spreador released through spreading or releasing said tail.

17 In a flying machine, a body, a tail projecting rearwardly therefrom and comprising flexible ribs arranged side by side whereby they may be spread and also may -be closed together, in combination with wings comprising flexible ribs adapted to allow said wingsa greater or 'less spread, connections between said wings and said tail whereby the reduction of the spread of said wings will allow the reduction in the spread of said tail, and means whereby the spread of said wings will be controlled.

, 18. In a flying machine, a body, a tail projecting rearwardly therefrom and comprising flexible ribs arranged side by side whereby they may be spread and also may be. 7

' comprising a sliding seat, said tail being hinged to swing vertically, and connections between said sliding seat and said tail whereby the outer extremity of said tail may be raised or lowered.

PERCIVAL w. WHITE, JR.

Witnesses: ALBERT F. AMEE, 4 CARROLL F. GETCHELL. 

